V2V4V8 ST50 Project

Tufty, you are right about the plastic/metal tanks.

If you'd like to keep the original carb, there's only little a Honda carb repair kit can't fix!

Does anyone have a metal tank in their 1971 ST50? The parts manual only lists one fuel tank part?

There is no doubt in my mind that the the seller of this bike was genuine and that he had owned the bike from new and it has not run for 28 years.

It would suprise me if he had swapped out the fuel tank as it would be "out of character" given the rest of the bike is virtualy unmolested.

Maybe he had problems with a metal fuel tank leaking many years ago and changed it for a plastic one?

I can vouch that this bike has had a plastic fuel tank for very many years and that the tank an fuel residue were filthy.

Hi there
Strange you should mention that as I was looking at st's on Ebay this evening and one of the bikes there appeared to have a plastic fuel cap which is what is fitted to plastic fuel tanks ?
regards Tufty

As said before, only CT's originally came with the plastic tank.
(And ST90, mighty daxes)
All other came with a metal one. But for rust, dirt and capacity reasons they were often swapped for their plastic brothers.

And yes, the plastic tanks have a plastic cap.
Note that the tank holder of both types is different as well.

Hi guys
yes the tank holder is different (the metal bit that holds the neck of the tank where the cap goes on) I believe you can get another litre of fuel in over the original metal one which is why people fit them when running non standard motors, I guess it dosent really matter only to perfectionists the other thing I find puzzling is why the plastic tank was not fitted as standard unless it was some Euro legislation ???

If I remember correctly (and often, I don't ) the difference is
2,4l <-> 2,8l

Yeah, I think a litre more capacity is not right.
We had just steel over here until the late seventies when plastic came on board, may be about the same time enduro and trail bikes whent plastic as well

Just another thing of interest on fuel tanks, you will have seen the after market alloy tanks from G-Craft and others that bolt on the side of your frame.
A while back I found a PDF on a mod some guy had done in france using a suzuki AC50 (69-75 model)oil tank used as a auxillary fuel tank.
Here are the pics:






i thought it was a good idea and looks ok on the bike, so have found one in new zealand and will give a go.
Will post the pics when I'm ready to install.